Slovakia, Ukraine: Unionized truck drivers end protest and blockade at Vysne Nemecke-Uzhhorod border crossing point as of Dec. 15 /update 1

Slovak truck drivers affiliated with the Union of Motor Carriers of Slovakia (UNAS) have ended their blockade of freight transport from Ukraine at the Vysne Nemecke-Uzhhorod border crossing as of Dec. 15. Drivers reportedly began lifting the blockade late Dec. 14, and took the decision to end the protest at the request of state security forces. The purpose of the demonstration and blockade was to demand restrictions on Ukrainian truckers' access to the EU; such restrictions were removed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Protest organizers had vowed that their blockade would not impact personal vehicular transport via the border crossing and would continue until their demands are met. Authorities reportedly deployed a heightened security presence to the border crossing to monitor the demonstration and flow of traffic.

Officials may maintain a heightened security presence at the border crossing in the coming days. Transport disruptions at the crossing may continue for several days as crossing backlogs clear.